Although Utah experiences dozens of small earthquakes every month, a BYU geology professor says these small quakes, one of which occurred early Sunday (June 11, 2006) morning, relieve virtually none of the tremendous seismic pressure on the Wasatch Fault.

Personnel from the University of Utah Seismograph station said Sunday's magnitude 3.6 quake occurred near Strawberry Reservoir and nobody reported feeling it.

BYU Geology professor Ron Harris said minor earthquakes serve as a sort of seismic reminder.

"Small ones tell us that that's an active fault," he said.

Harris said the Wasatch Fault zone has two types of earthquakes; small insignificant ones and large, severely damaging ones. He said although the large earthquakes typically occur every 250 to 300 years it's been longer than that since Utah has had a major quake. This means Utah is overdue for an approximate magnitude 7 earthquake, Harris said.

Many fault zones experience earthquakes of various sizes but Harris said because Utah's quakes are hardly ever between a magnitude 4 and a magnitude 6, seismic pressure continues to build.

Harris said people need to prepare for coming quakes by reinforcing or replacing older buildings.

"I call it the war against seismic terrorism," he said.

Harris said he fears for the welfare of children going to public schools because 80 percent of public schools are not reinforced against earthquake damage. He said an old brick building often constitutes a 'death trap' in the event of an earthquake. Harris said some of BYU's buildings, like Deseret Towers, unfortunately fall into that category.

"That's what D.T. stands for," Harris said. "Death trap."

President Gordon B. Hinkley is presently aware of BYU's vulnerable buildings. Harris said President Hinkley spoke with him about the condition of buildings on campus and when Harris gave his opinion he said Hinkley responded that BYU could not risk it's students.

No demolition or reconstruction has begun at Deseret Towers as of yet. Warren Jones, BYU director of facilities planning, said there have been rumors about a Deseret Towers construction project, but no work order has been approved.

Copyright Brigham Young University 14 Jun 2006